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First, he is obsolete. He belongs to the "old school" soviet-type communist sort, so to say. It is what touches the hearts of nostalgic elders, but to the younger voters he's just laughable.

Second, he speaks funnily, with Southern-Russian accent. It is not a bad thing in itself, of course, but it makes him resemble Kopatych (a bear cartoon character from a popular series) too much for a politician to get any high. The character is cute, and kind, and hardworking, and overall positive despite being somewhat... emm... basic. Anyway, who would want a cartoon character for, say, the president?

Edit: found the cartoon series in English, nicely translated. Enjoy. Not sure though if they managed to keep the heavy "farmer's" accent of the Bear character to be still recognizable in the English audio...

What's the general ideas on the future of the communist party?
Like, do they have any chance? Are they just going to stay the size they are?
Are they getting overrun by the political correctness brigade

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They have some support in society, certainly more profound than pro-Western liberals. I think they will continue to be the main opposition fraction in Russian parliament at least until the end of Putin's 4-th term (2024, IIRC). But ruling elite won't let them take the power anytime soon.

Syria exporting food to Russia ? I though Syria was close to exhausting it aquafier table
I guess its winter in Russia so vegtable prices are expensive.

What is the Russian diet in winter like ?
And during the soviet times, Red said they were plentiful of cheap basic commodities but you only got basics stuffs like bread and meat.

Putin's sanctions against Turkey drag Russia into economic downturn

The rise in prices of food at conventional stores has sparked outrage among Russian consumers. They are considerably displeased with this situation, because they can hardly find fruits and vegetables in the markets. Even if they can find what they need, they are shocked at rising consumer prices.

Food prices have risen from 15 to 20 percent, especially in markets across Moscow. Tomatoes are sold at 720 rubles (29 TL) while carrots are sold at 551 rubles (21.7 TL) in markets. The price of cucumbers, a favourite salad addition for many in Russia, rose to 990 rubles (39 TL) in markets.

The Russian government has strived to narrow the huge gap in the market by importing high-demand agricultural products from its closest ally in the Mideast, Syria.

In 15 days in January, the price of milk and milk products rose by 7 percent. The price of farming products has climbed to 11 percent while the price of fruits has risen 15 percent. The highest increase is the price of bread, with a rise of 25 percent. The rise in product prices is not limited to these. Russian people are now buying their national beverage, vodka, paying 10 percent more than they did in 2015.

&#8220;There was a decline in the stock market at record levels. One US dollar has increased to 76 rubles, 1 ruble went up to level 83 Euro. The drop in oil prices and devalution of the Chinese currency can be considered as a reason for this poor progress," he explained. &#8220;But no matter which way you look at, the general situation is bleak."

As far as I remember, there were good Ukrainian and especially, Lithuanian teams in 80-s. USSR probably has been putting more effort in development basketball in those regions, at least that would be logical thing to do. Without them, Russian team was weakened, obviously.

Even "&#1040;&#1079;&#1073;&#1091;&#1082;&#1072; &#1042;&#1082;&#1091;&#1089;&#1072;" - a grocery store, which is probably the most expensive in Moscow, known (and mocked by common folks) for selling same stuff for at least twice as much money calling it "exquisiteness" - offers cucumbers at 7&#8364;/Kg tops, end even there you can get a kilo of Iranian cucumbers for 3&#8364;.

So it seems. Yeekim, you can go around with some Russian language, can't you? Try searching for "&#1076;&#1086;&#1089;&#1090;&#1072;&#1074;&#1082;&#1072; &#1087;&#1088;&#1086;&#1076;&#1091;&#1082;&#1090;&#1086;&#1074; &#1085;&#1072; &#1076;&#1086;&#1084;" ("grocery delivery") with yandex, which is better than Google at searching ".ru" net, and see for yourself.

Also, the article is not entirely wrong, there are correct figures, just they are put the scary way. Like bread, for instance. It used to cost 20 RUB, when the exchange rate was 40 RUB / 1 EUR, so it was 0.50 EUR. The price went 25% up, it is true. Now the 0,75 Kg loaves come at 25 RUB each, which is not a big deal as such in absolute values, but with exchange rate becoming over 80 RUB / 1 EUR the bread price becomes like 0.30 EUR.

220 Ruble for cucumbers which is $2.90 USD
270 Ruble for Russian cucumbers which is $3.55 USD
22 Ruble for potato which is $0.29 USD per kilo
28 Ruble for cabbage which is $0.36 USD per kilo
390 Ruble for zucchini which might have been mistaken for cucumbers is $5.13 USD

EDIT: Russian Minimal wage is 6,204 rubles a month or 207 rubles per day. which is $2.73 per day ..... umm can someone double check this ?
Its not so bad as the staples are quite cheap. Also its winter right so vegetables are more expensive anyways

Russian Minimal wage is 6,204 rubles a month or 207 rubles per day. which is $2.73 per day ..... umm can someone double check this ?

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That's where corruptions/lawlessness come in handy. For quite some time there my official wage was 8,000 rubles per month and I got the other 1,500$ per month in an envelope under the table. No taxes, no deductions.

The prices should be high in some local shops where is no competition so sellers abuse situation. I think that source for such news should be actually valid information from some Russian office which controls prices in small towns and villages. Then its used in propaganda against Russia.

Taking articles from unknown sources with a bucket of salt, is generally a good practice.

Yeni &#350;afak ("New Dawn") is a conservative Turkish daily newspaper. The newspaper is known for its hardline support of president Recep Tayyip Erdo&#287;an and the AKP.[2] Yeni &#350;afak newspaper made it to international headlines when it was found out that the newspaper fabricated some parts of an interview done with world famous intellectual Noam Chomsky.[3] According to a report published by Hrant Dink Foundation, Yeni &#350;afak is one of the top three Turkish newspapers resorting to hate speech

@REDY: yes, I'd guess the prices in the article may be actual for some remote oil-pumping Nowheresville with nothing but permafrost and tundra for like days worth travel around where they have to use helicopters to bring food in.

Turkish sanctions occurred in late Dec 2015, which is pretty recent
Along with Ukraine cutting electricity in late Nov 2015, with was blown up power lines. Food prices in Crimea are definitely worse then in Russia.

Inflation in Crimea two times higher than in Russia

In 2015 prices in Crimea spiked by 26.4%, while in Russia they increased by 12.9%.

In 2015 inflation in Crimea was higher than anywhere else in Russia at 26.4%. Meanwhile the average inflation in Russia was 12.9%, reports Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

&#8220;In regions of Russian Federation the increased of prices in December year-on-year was from 10.3% to 17.5%, except for Crimea. In Crimea prices increased by 26.4%,&#8221; says the official statement.

Overall in 2015 consumer prices index increased in Russia to 12.9% from 11.4% in 2014. In the past two years inflation increased twofold from 6.4% on average in 2011-2013.

They dont call Ivan crazy for nothing
Wood is easier to work then metal but it dosnt last as long, given the amount of work it took to make, kinda a waste to use wood. as Borat would say "is very nice"